Over the last couple of months I have been spending time with a friend from university: Desmond. Desmond is not his real name, but it will be his name for the sake of this post. When changing names articles often use boring names - Desmond isn't a boring name, a bit ol' school perhaps, but not boring. Desmond didn't ever finish uni - his life has become pretty messed up since I saw him last in AD2000.

Recently, I "just happened" (read: God in his providence) to cross paths again with Desmond. I was sitting down in a local cafe at the start of January doing some work in preparation for summerfest07. A man grabbed my attention out of the corner of my left eye as he offered to sell me a wetsuit. As our eyes made contact we both knew that we knew each other from somewhere. He looked different, but I could still tell that it was Desmond. I could tell by his appearance that he'd had a rough couple of years. He had. All sorts of different addictions to different drugs. He told me that he was trying to get his life back together - and without any prompting by me - he said how much he thought of me because I was a Christian. We were able to speak briefly about Jesus and I was able to answer some questions that he had. I needed to get home - but we arranged to catch up and talk more and read the Bible together in a week's time.

During that week Desmond became homeless after being ripped-off by some tough nuts. He was in a bad way - life wasn't going too well - and he had become more vulnerable now that he was living on the streets. I just sat and listened to him, found out what had gone on over the past couple of years and talked to him about Jesus. I went with him to Vinnies to get some clothes because he had none. It was a good time - so we arranged to do it again.

On the next visit I gave him a Bible with a photo laminated to the back of Desmond, 2 other class mates and me. He was in good Spirits but during that 1st week out on the streets he was exposed to the darker side of our town. As his anxieties increased so did his intake of random pills to get him high. As well as methadone he was popping a whole bunch of pills at once.

For a couple of weeks it became less and less possible to communicate with him - he was that stacked up on pills. Those weeks didn't lead to super-fruitful conversations but it was good to be there and he has appreciated the time that I have spent with him. He has a lot of time for Christians. He knows they are different. He knows that they are the main people staffing the Soup Kitchen.

Desmond has lost the Bible that I gave him... but I'm going to give him another one next week. He's keen to come to church as well.

I've had a bunch of friends praying for him - and would love you to as well. Praise God that Desmond recently received a Housing Commission house. Praise God for the time that Desmond spent in detox last week. Ask God to give Desmond strength to decrease his methadone. Ask God that Desmond would understand who Jesus is - and that he would put his trust in Jesus.

The last couple of months has been a helpful time for me to think through how it is that we as Christians are to care for those who are poor and helpless... and how the only hope for the world is found in the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection. I believe that gospel - and believe that God can radically change people.

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This is my 200 post on eternal weight of glory!! Congratulations Dave!! You're incredible!

PS - this post was written in the middle of the night - I was falling asleep at my computer - so the English isn't the best! But you'll get the idea...

(h/t to TooseHooseOnline)

Today a friend spoke to me to apologise for a comment that they made to me on the weekend. I said I took no offence to the comment and that the apology wasn't necessary (I knew that the comment was in jest). I did, however, say that I thought that it was a good thing to receive the call and that it showed great character.

Sometimes we are slow to apologise. I need to be quick to apologise.
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The above picture is from Episode 43 of On the Poddy

On the Poddy (ccecyouth's weekly podcast that Dan and I put together) is back in the top 25 on iTunes!! Yesterday we peaked at #22 in the Christianity section.

If you've never listened to On the Poddy, go to this page to check it out. If you like it subscribe to it in iTunes to help us move up the rankings. Click here to subscribe.

Have you listened to the 2 new episodes this year? What did you think?

Tomorrow we will be starting a 12 week series in two local high school lunchtime Christian groups. The Series is called JESUS The Real Deal. Each week is based on a chapter from John Dickson's A spectator's guide to Jesus (find the book here).

Dickson also has a podcast on the content of this book - which will help in preparing each week.

There is some excitement brewing over this series - and I had an exciting meeting with the leadership team from one of the schools early this morning.

I really like the poster (click to make it bigger). It only took 10 minutes to make - but is very eye-catching. Please pray for these groups.

Here is a bootleg of Crown Him With Many Crowns. It was written by some bloke a long time ago - and Dan Godden has recently written a new tune to it. It is my favourite song at the moment - and I think the best hymn re-write that I know.

A few people (non-CCEC) have mentioned that they wanted to hear it - but it hasn't ever been recorded. So... last night I made a bootleg!! I simply used an mp3 player and sat it on the chair. It was probably a bit close to the front so it distorted a little bit - but it's not too bad. Dan normally plays guitar and leads this song - but he didn't last night. So it's not as tight as normal.

Here's the link again. Let me know what you think...

For other congregational music recorded properly by our church go to www.singjesuspraise.com

The men from our church who are travelling to MKC might feel a bit gypped. Our senior Minister will be speaking as well as Frank Retief from South Africa. Why would they feel gypped? Because they hear Andrew every week - and on Monday night Frank Retief will be speaking at our church!! But there's much more to Men's Convention than whether you hear the speakers regularly or not!

I'm not going to MKC - but if you are hope it rocks.

Below is the info our church has put out. The info has been passed on to other churches - so if you're not from CCEC - you're more than welcome to attend.

SHARE THE VISION with FRANK RETIEF
For more than 30 years Frank pastored a large multicultural churc in Cape Town, South Africa. In the midst of significant political and social upheaval in that country, God has used Frank's church to declare the message of hope to many South Africans. He is an inspirational Bible preacher and has travelled widely preaching in different places.

When: Monday 19th February at 7:45pm

Where: Erina High School Hall (Cnr The Entrance Rd and Ernest St, Erina)

Info: 4367-2100 or email office@ccec.com.au

(h/t Josh - he made it)

Tomorrow is the big day rose-lovers. Today I recorded and produced the best Podcast I've recorded and produced all year!* I had a couple of special guests join me for the show. Lots of fun. Download it from here. Check out our new website here. Subscribe with iTunes by clicking here. Whatever you do, don't click here.

*For those who sometimes miss my humour - it's the only one I've done this year!^

^For those who sometimes miss my footnotes explaining my humour - you've probably missed the first footnote#

#I think they say that it's not particularly clever humour if you have to explain it... oops.

In December I announced that our youth group website would be getting a major face-lift.

Drum roll...

Here it is: www.ccecyouth.net.

If you could take a minute to check it out - and also send through (in comments or by email) broken links or any problems you can find. If you have a number of different browsers on your computer can you just open it to see if it looks okay? (I've check in Firefox 2 and IE 7). Also keen to hear what it likes on an Apple.

The next week or two there are a few tweaks that still need to be made - and the address www.ccecyouth.com needs to be redirected to point at it.

I'm currently getting together a team of creative types to help develop a couple of exciting projects that we have in store...

Stay tuned for more.

ps - Prayer Friday 2007 - returning to a blog near you soon!

Some people write some pretty stupid things on MySpace. Some don't. This quote is part of the latter. Very encouraging...

blessed amazingly by ccec. i love ccecyouth, a wonderful youth group. it's a wonderful encouraging time each friday night (erina high school hall, 7-9.30, send me a message if you want to know more!) and there's such a fantastic bunch of christian youth leaders. they're all so beautiful, and they are the reason i am where i am in my christian walk. without them, i'd be lost. i love the youth group and bible study girls :) bible study is such a great time to hang out together and get into the bible, share what's happening, and pray together. it makes the hard times so much easier to know there's people there for you, and the good times so much more fun! loving ccec night church too! the preaching which you hear each week is so amazing and truthful to the gospel, and it is the most wonderful feeling to be sitting amongst a group of people who are so diverse and have so many different interests, but are brought together by the single most important belief in life, and are singing and praising God together.

This is number 30 in my series of Youth Ministry posts.
Click here to view the updated list.

The following is part of an email I'm about to send out to CCECYOUTH leaders.
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We've had two great meetings recently and spent a significant amount of time in the pastoral epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) reflecting on the life of the leader. Our character matters more than our competency. Our godliness matters more than our giftedness.

Lust is something that all people struggle with. Guys and girls, young and old, married and single. I'm keen to keep guarding my heart from selfishness and sexual impurity. Be encouraged to do like wise. To that end, I've recently started listening to Josh Harris (Senior Pastor of Covenant Life) speaking on Purity. The series is great so far. Here is the sermon section. Download the talks directly: Talk 1, Talk 2, Talk 3, Talk 4, Talk 5. These talks aren't just for guys!! They've also put together a list of other resources on the same topic.

There are stacks of great resources on the Internet to help Christians fight against lust (there are also many websites set up to cause people to lust!!). The Rebulation has set up a resource page that pulls together many great ones (including John Piper).

If you're struggling with lust - get accountable today. Speak to someone. Join up with a prayer partner or prayer triplet. Be reminded also of the forgiveness that the blood of Jesus brings - and pray that God would keep changing you from the inside out.
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If you check out any of the resources leave a comment with any reflections. Likewise - if you find any other good resources post them in the comments section.

Last night I was picked up for church. My lift was significantly late. For the 20 minutes that I stood on the side of the road I was disappointed. Why? Because I would miss the first half of songs at church. While waiting I was able to reflect on how much I love CCEC nite church music. Dan has done a great job over the last year or so in developing the team.

The two songs that I was able to sing were fantastic. We were taught Let your kingdom come from Sovereign Grace's Valley of Vision CD (this CD is gold... get it!). We've played this at morning church a bunch of times - but this was the first time at nite - and it was fantastic. The other song was Crown him with many crowns. In my opinion this is the best hymn re-write. Dan put new music to it last year.

Our nite church music is in my opinion some of the best quality music around. I used to enjoy the quality at Katoomba Christian Conventions more than church but that has now changed. KCC gear hasn't become worse - just ours has become better.

So if you're in the music crew at church and you're reading this: be encouraged to keep making fine music.

Question: Do you love your church music? Or just tolerate it?

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians 6:14

Check it out here and here. (H/T Kurt)